Pompeii Day Plan by Interest
What you do at Pompeii depends on what draws you there. This page sorts the options by interest, so you can build a day around civic buildings, painted rooms, quiet reflection or a climb up the volcano. Amounts are in euros.
If you like civic architecture
Spend the morning around the Forum. The Temple of Jupiter sits at its head, Vesuvius is the backdrop, and the Basilica and the Macellum, a covered market, are within a few steps. The amphitheatre, the oldest stone amphitheatre still standing, is where you can think about public entertainment in Roman towns. Published seating counts differ, so take any one figure as an approximation.
If you like houses and painted rooms
Look for the Casa dei Vettii, open again since January 2023. A set of houses came back into the visitor route on 15 August 2026: Menander, Octavius Quartio, the Tragic Poet and Pansa, plus the Fullonica of Stephanus, all daily from 09:15 to 18:20 with admission until 18:00. Four others (Ceii, the Lararium of Achilles, the Silver Wedding and the Praedia of Julia Felix) are shut. The Lupanar is also part of many routes.
For frescoes outside the walls, follow the suburban villas route from the Porta Ercolano and Via dei Sepolcri entrance to the Villa dei Misteri. Pompeii+ includes it; Pompeii Express holders can buy the add-on for EUR 8 at the entrance, with a card.
If you want a quiet, thoughtful visit
The people of Pompeii died in AD 79, and the park gives that fact space. Its permanent exhibition in the Palestra Grande, which opened on 12 March 2026, calls itself a memorial and presents 22 casts of victims in order to restore their dignity. At the Garden of the Fugitives, in Regio I, casts of 13 victims lie where they were found. Speak softly here and leave out the jokes. Do not climb on walls.
If you want a guide
Park-led thematic itineraries (Civic Pompeii, Daily Pompeii) run about an hour and a half for EUR 8 plus entry. Licensed guides also work at the entrances.
If you want a mountain
Vesuvius has a guided walking route called Path No. 5, ending at the Gran Cono. See the day trip and walking pages for tickets and times, linked below.
Ticket basics
Pompeii Express costs EUR 20 and Pompeii+ costs EUR 25. Names are printed on every paid ticket and the daily limit is 20,000. In the warm season, 16 March to 14 October, a morning or afternoon entry slot is part of booking; the gates are open 09:00 to 19:00. In the cooler season the park closes at 17:00. Official sale is through Vivaticket , and you can check the live timetable on pompeiisites.org . First Sundays are free, and on those days you walk up to the turnstiles without booking.
Whichever route you choose, the site is exposed, so carry water and a hat. Vesuvius and the nearby Campi Flegrei are volcanoes that scientists watch continuously, and Italy has emergency plans for both; read the FCDO and US State Department pages for the current position.
If you want to compare organised days out, Viator has listings.
Read more: attraction tours in Pompei and day trips from Pompei cover guides and nearby sites, and the 3 day Naples itinerary places Pompeii within a wider trip.